Tyler Herro is not someone the Miami Heat can begin to replace with the current roster, but his absence while recovering from left ankle surgery opens the door for others to leave their mark. It took all of one game for Dru Smith to leave his.
Despite logging just over 10 minutes in Miami’s preseason opener, the 27-year-old delivered an impact worthy of a full-length performance. He finished with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and two blocks, while playing his usual amount of ultra-pesky defense.
The performance itself shouldn’t technically be a seismic event. Smith is known as a gnatty defender, and quality secondary ball-handler. The shock-and-awe factor goes kaboom once you remember he played in an NBA basketball game on October 4 despite suffering an Achilles tear on Dec. 24…less than 10 months ago.
Even if you understand how much the Heat value Smith, merely being on the court so soon after yet another major injury is a feat unto itself. That’s apparently not enough for him, though. Because he played well enough to give Erik Spoelstra something to think about.
Dru Smith may be in line for a bigger role than we think
Herro’s timetable for return from surgery gives the Heat a license to experiment with the backcourt and overall perimeter rotation through roughly November. Terry Rozier’s hamstring injury also leaves Miami down another ball-handler for the time being.
This bodes well for Smith’s chance of cracking the regular rotation. So, too, does the Heat’s revamped offensive approach.
Spoelstra is clearly favoring lineups that open up a ton of space, and can run the floor. The way Smith moved during his return, especially on the defensive end, suggests he’ll have little trouble playing in a faster-paced environment post-injury.
The ball-handling could prove particularly valuable without Herro in the fold. Miami doesn’t have many others comfortable operating in the lane off live dribbles. The best version of Davion Mitchell doesn’t feature that type of composure, and if the preseason tilt against the Magic is any indication, the Heat don’t plan to use Norman Powell to jump-start the offense.
Pelle Larsson and rookie Kasparas Jakucionis will be factors in this discussion. Neither brings the defensive upside of Smith—who can, depending on the opponent, soak up reps across four positions, and even provide help-side rim protection.
Funnily enough, while the Heat’s finite number of ball-handlers without Herro may be what guarantees Smith minutes early on, it’s the defensive intensity and versatility that could ensure he remains a part of the rotation if and when the team reaches full strength. Either way, he’s armed with both the tools and opportunity necessary to carve out a bigger role than anyone expected.